Reclining chair construction

ABSTRACT

A reclining chair construction employs a basic frame comprising a pair of arm panels connected together by metal cross frames bolted to the panels.

United States Patent 151 3,690,723 McClain et al. [451 Sept. 12, 1972RECLINING CHAIR CONSTRUCTION 2,666,478 1/1954 Shwayder ..248/ 188.91[72] memo; Doug, McClain, Houlka, W884 2,862,778 12/1958 Rachman et al..24s/13s.91 Lem, Osborn, Wheaten, m 3,1213; 3x32; 35mm 237/410 ,1 eiss7 4 0 [73] Assgneefi f Baldwyn, 3,393,011 7/1968 Shastid ..297/440 [22]Filed: 1970 Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay [21] Appl. No.: 79,241Assistant Examiner-Darrell Marquette Attorney-Fidler, Patnaude, Lazo &Batz [52] US. Cl ..297/85- 297/445 51 Int. Cl ..A 47c 1/02 [57] ABSTRACTField of sflllch A reclining chair construction employs a basic frame 2248/ 188.91 comprising a pair of arm panels connected together by metalcross frames bolted to the panels. [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Ferguson ..297/85 Patented Sept. 12,1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 //VVE/VTORS. DOUGLAS MC CLAl/V L EMUEL E. OSBOR/VPatented Sept. 12, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/VVE/VTOHS. DOUGLAS MC CLA/NLEMUEL E. OSB'OR/V RECLINING CHAIR CONSTRUCTION The present inventionrelates in general to the construction of a chair of the type known inthe furniture art as a recliner, and it relates in particular to a newand improved frame in which the seat, back, and footrest are movablymounted.

Recliners of the general type with which this invention is concernedhave been known in the art for many years. Basically, they have includeda hardwood frame in the shape of the letter H, a pair of open,rectangular frames fastened to the I-I-frame to form the arms,additional hardwood boards fastened to the I-I-frame for mounting therecliner mechanism, and seat, back and footrest assemblies secured tothe recliner mechanism for controlled, interdependent movement. Althoughrecliners have had good consumer acceptance, their manufacturing costhas been relatively great and they have been more susceptible to damagethan other types of furniture of similar quality. For example, aconsiderable amount of work and skill are required to build the H-frameand the associated arm frames and reclining mechanism supports.Moreover, lifting such prior art recliners by the arms has frequentlybroken the arms loose from the Hframe.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved recliner which is more durable in construction and lighter inweight than prior art recliners, and which can be manufactured at alower cost than recliners built in accordance with the prior art.

Briefly, the above and further objects may be realized in accordancewith the present invention by providing a recliner construction in whichthe main frame in which the seat, back and footrest are movably mountedincludes a pair of arms forming panel members and a metal cross framebolted thereto. The recliner mechanism is secured to the panel membersto movably support the other parts of the recliner therebetween. Sincethe panel members constitute the arms as well as the support for therecliner mechanism, the arms are an integral part of the basic frame assembly and cannot be broken loose without substantial destruction of theentire chair. Moreover, the use of hardwood is unnecessary since thepanels may be cut from plywood, chipboard or the like, therebysubstantially reducing the weight of the recliner.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best beunderstood by reference to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a recliner embodying the presentinvention, portions thereof being broken away to show the internalframe;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partially sectioned, of the reclinerof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, partially sectioned view of the portion of therecliner identified by the circle labeled FIG. 6 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view showing the recliner mechanism in aretracted condition;

FIG. 8 is a view showing the recliner mechanism in an extendedcondition; and

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the recliner shownin FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, thereis shown a reclining chair 10 including a pair of arms 11 and 12, a seat13, a backrest l4, and a footrest 15. The seat 13, the backrest 14 andthe footrest 15 are all movable within the arms 11 and 12, these movableparts being shown in FIG. 1 in a retracted position. When in an extendedposition as shown in FIG. 2 the footrest 15 is positioned forwardly ofthe seat in a generally horizontal position. It may thus be seen thatthe seat 13, the back 14 and the footrest 15 as well as the personsitting in the chair are supported between the arms 11 and 12. In theprior art construction, the main support for this movable mechanism wasa relatively planar framework located at the very bottom of the chairadjacent to the floor.

In accordance with an important feature of the present invention thearms 11 and 12 are of the same construction, being mirror images of oneanother, and the arm 12 comprises, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, apanel member 17 cut in the shape of the desired profile of the arm. Thispanel may be cut from plywood, chipboard or other suitable material andto the edges thereof a plurality of boards 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23 aresuitably fastened such as by nailing or stapling. It will be noted thatthe bottom board 19 extends below the bottom edge of the panel 17. Inlike manner, the arm 11 is formed by a panel member 25 to the edges ofwhich boards identical to the boards 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23 aresimilarly fastened. A fabric or leather cover 27 encloses the frame ofthe arms.

In the chair construction of the present invention the panels 17 and 25form basic parts of the. frame of the chair and are connected togetherby means of a pair of identical cross frame members 29 and 30. The frontframe member 30 is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. It is a metal tubehaving upturned vertically disposed ends 32 and 33 which are flattenedand provided with horizontal holes for receiving a pair of bolts 35 and36. As best shown in FIG. 6, the vertical portion 33 has a substantiallyplanar vertical surface which lies against the panel 25 to minimizerelative movement between the panels and the cross frame members afterthey are bolted together.

For convenienceand in order to reduce the cost and weight of therecliner 10, the bolts which secure the cross frame members to the armpanelsalso secure the recliner mechanism 38 (best shown in FIGS. 7 and8) to the arm panels 17 and 25. As best shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6,the recliner mechanism includes a pair of mounting plates 40 and 41 eachprovided with a pair of mounting slots 42 and 43 through which the bolts35 and 36 extend. A pair of spacer blocks 45 are positioned between thepanels 17 and 25 and the mounting plates 41 to maintain parallelismbetween the mounting plates 41 and the arm panels 17 and 25. Moreover,the blocks 45 have apertured end flanges 47 and 48 which provide a largearea of contact with the cross frame members to further prevent relativemovement between the cross frame members and the panels 17 and 25.

The recliner mechanism 38 is of the basic prior art construction and theplates41 are connected by a plurality of linkages to the footrest 15 andto a frame 50 for the seat and back 13 and 14. ln some reclinerconstructions, the seat frame and the back frame are separatelyconnected to the recliner mechanism so as to be relatively movable.Since, however, the construction of the recliner mechanism itself doesnot constitute a part of the present invention for purposes ofsimplicity the recliner mechanism 38 shown is for use with a simple typeof recliner wherein the back and seat are fixedly connected together.

While the present invention has been described in connection with aparticular embodiment thereof, it will be understood that many changesand modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit andthe scope of the present invention. It is intended, therefore, to coverall such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A reclining chair construction of the type including a pair offixedly positioned arms, seat and back members movably mounted betweensaid arms, and a footrest movable from a vertical position at the frontof said arms below said seat to a generally horizontal positionforwardly of said arms and said seat, the combination comprising a pairof horizontal elongated foot members disposed in spaced apart parallelrelationship,

a pair of vertically disposed panel members mounted over and secured torespective ones of said foot members,

a pair of cap members secured to the top portions of respective ones ofsaid panel members,

each of said panel members and the horizontal foot and cap membersconnected thereto forming one of said arms,

a pair of substantially horizontal cross frame members each havingapertured, vertically extending end portions respectively lying againstthe inner faces of said panel members intermediate the front and rearedges of said panel members,

The lengths of said cross frame members exceeding the width of saidseat,

means extending through said apertures for fixedly securing said crossframe members to said panel members, and

a recliner mechanism connected between said seat,

back and footrest and mounted by said panel members. 2. A recliningchair construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said panel membersare formed of plywood.

3. A reclining chair construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein saidpanel members have a profile of substantially the same shape as saidarms. 4. A reclining chair construction as set forth in claim 2 whereinsaid cross frame members are metal, and said means for securing saidcross frame members to said panel members are bolt and nut assemblies.5. A reclining chair construction as set forth in claim 4 wherein saidbolt and nut assemblies also connect said recliner mechanism to saidpanel members. 6. A reclining chair construction as set forth in claim 4wherein said seat and back members are fixed together in a mannerpreventing relative movement therebetween.

7. An H-frame for a reclining chair of the type having a seat and backtiltable between a pair of arms, comprising a pair of verticallydisposed, unitary panel members forming said arms and arranged inparallel, spaced apart relationship,

a pair of tubular metallic cross frames extending between said panelmembers intermediate the ends thereof and each having a horizontalintermediate portion and upturned end portions said end portionsextending parallel to said panels and each having a substantially flatouter surface lying against the opposing inner face of the ad jacentpanel member,

a pair of spacer members each disposed over the adjacent end portions ofsaid frames and being provided with grooves to receive said end portionsand retain said cross frames in fixed relative relationship, and

a plurality of bolts extending through aligned apertures in said panels,said spacer members and said cross frames for fixedly securing saidcross frames and said panels into a rigid frame for supporting said seatand said back.

1. A reclining chair construction of the type including a pair offixedly positioned arms, seat and back members movably mounted betweensaid arms, and a footrest movable from a vertical position at the frontof said arms below said seat to a generally horizontal positionforwardly of said arms and said seat, the combination comprising a pairof horizontal elongated foot members disposed in spaced apart parallelrelationship, a pair of vertically disposed panel members mounted overand secured to respective ones of said foot members, a pair of capmembers secured to the top portions of respective ones of said panelmembers, each of said panel members and the horizontal foot and capmembers connected thereto forming one of said arms, a pair ofsubstantially horizontal cross frame members each having apertured,vertically extending end portions respectively lying against the innerfaces of said panel members intermediate the front and rear edges ofsaid panel members, The lengths of said cross frame members exceedingthe width of said seat, means extending through said apertures forfixedly securing said cross frame members to said panel members, and arecliner mechanism connected between said seat, back and footrest andmounted by said panel members.
 2. A reclining chair construction as setforth in claim 1 wherein said panel members are formed of plywood.
 3. Areclining chair construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein said panelmembers have a profile of substantially the same shape as said arms. 4.A reclining chair construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein saidcross frame members are metal, and said means for securing said crossframe members to said panel members are bolt and nut assemblies.
 5. Areclining chair construction as set forth in claim 4 wherein said boltand nut assemblies also connect said recliner mechanism to said panelmembers.
 6. A reclining chair construction as set forth in claim 4wherein said seat and back members are fixed together in a mannerpreventing relative movement therebetween.
 7. An H-frame for a recliningchair of the type having a seat and back tiltable between a pair ofarms, comprising a pair of vertically disposed, unitary panel membersforming said arms and arranged in parallel, spaced apart relationship, apair of tubular metallic cross frames extending between said panelmembers intermediate the ends thereof and each having a horizontalintermediate portion and upturned end portions said end portionsextending parallel to said panels and each having a substantially flatouter surface lying against the opposing inner face of the adjacentpanel member, a pair of spacer members each disposed over the adjacentend portions of said frames and being provided with grooves to receivesaid end portions and retain said cross frames in fixed relativerelationship, and a plurality of bolts extending through alignedapertures in said panels, said spacer members and said cross frames forfixedly securing said cross frames and said panels into a rigid framefor supporting said seat and said back.